The top moments of David Wright’s career
Although Wright’s groups typically struggled round him, he carried them to higher heights, setting franchise information for hits, doubles, RBIs, walks and runs scored. Yet even these numbers can’t describe his profession fairly in addition to the highest moments from it.
July 21, 2004: Big league debut
The thirty eighth general choose within the 2001 Draft, Wright took rather less than three years to climb the Mets’ Minor League ladder, debuting in entrance of 30,227 followers at Shea Stadium. Though he went 0-for-4 that night time towards the Expos, Wright doubled off Zach Day sooner or later later for his first profession hit.
Aug. 9, 2005: Flashing leather-based
A two-time Gold Glover, Wright made maybe the 2 most memorable defensive performs of his profession inside a two-month span in 2005. First, in a June recreation in Seattle, he dove into the stands, leaping off each ft to snare a Raul Ibanez popup.
Two months later in San Diego, Wright made a barehanded seize in shallow left area to rob Brian Giles of what appeared like a certain bloop single. The play received MLB.com’s 2005 This Year in Baseball Play of the Year Award.
May 19, 2006: Exit Sandman
The Mets’ ascension as a Major League powerhouse was all however full by May 2006, however they nonetheless had not overcome their status because the crosstown Yankees’ little brothers. Wright did his half to erase the stigma with a walk-off single within the 12 months’s first Subway Series recreation, blasting a Mariano Rivera cutter to the center-field wall. The Mets received, 7-6.
July 11, 2006: Hey now, you are an All-Star
It took Wright till his third season to make the primary of his seven All-Star Games. It then took him all of two innings to make an impression; beginning at third base and batting sixth, Wright clubbed a Kenny Rogers pitch over the fence at PNC Park. He went on to hit safely in six of his seven profession All-Star Games, batting .389 with a .977 OPS for the National League.
March 17, 2009: Comeback child
Three outs from elimination within the World Baseball Classic, Wright hit a walk-off, two-run single off Fernando Cabrera to stun Puerto Rico, advancing Team USA into the semifinals. In the sport’s speedy aftermath, Wright known as the second considered one of his profession highlights.
“That’s right up there at the top,” he mentioned. “I mean, you’re talking about representing the United States of America. You have that across the front of your chest.”
Wright did not want any of his signature energy to grow to be the Mets’ all-time hits chief, hustling out an infield single to go Ed Kranepool together with his 1,419th profession knock. He went on to rack up a couple of hundred extra over the following 4 seasons, extending his file to 1,777.
March 9, 2013: Captain America
An outspoken proponent of the World Baseball Classic, Wright solidified his “Captain America” nickname by hitting a grand slam in 2013 pool play towards Team Italy. The blast stored a struggling Team USA alive, finally permitting the Americans to advance to the second spherical. Finishing 7-for-16 with 10 RBIs in Classic play, Wright needed to depart early as a result of a ribcage damage.
March 21, 2013: O captain! My captain!
When the Mets rewarded Wright with an eight-year, $138-million contract following the 2012 season, his captaincy appeared inevitable. It occurred three months later in a Spring Training ceremony; Wright adopted Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez and John Franco because the fourth captain in group historical past, and the primary since Franco in 2004. In accepting the title, Wright eschewed the symbolic “C” on his jersey, preferring to maintain the emphasis on the group.
Aug. 24, 2015: Welcome again, Captain
For a number of months of the 2015 season, the Mets had been not sure if Wright would play once more. Shortly after he hit the disabled record in April as a result of a hamstring damage, docs found that Wright was affected by spinal stenosis, a degenerative again situation. He wound up lacking 4 months as a result of an damage that ultimately additionally value him his profession.
Oct. 30, 2015: An evening to recollect
Throughout Wright’s profession, he spoke reverently of the World Series, bemoaning how shut the Mets got here in 2006 solely to overlook out on the postseason the following eight seasons. That modified in 2015, when Wright and the Mets superior to the Fall Classic towards the Royals.
Sept. 29, 2018: A grand farewell
Despite Wright’s comeback in 2015, his damage woes solely deepened over the following three years, as he underwent neck, shoulder and again surgical procedures in an try to proceed enjoying (and to keep up his high quality of life post-retirement). Late within the 2018 season, it turned clear to Wright that he couldn’t proceed, and so the Mets organized a return for him throughout the season’s closing weekend at Citi Field. Wright pinch-hit in Friday’s recreation, earlier than enjoying 5 innings at third base the next night time.
